7-foot-3 center Omogbehin may go to prep school

Jordan Omogbehin, a 7-foot-3 freshman center from Nigeria who was expected to play at USF this season, may instead spend this fall at Faith Baptist, a new prep school program in Brandon, due to academic issues.

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Omogbehin, who was conditionally accepted to USF and took 12 credit hours this summer, did not earn the necessary entrance exam scores to meet the NCAA requirements for initial eligibility. USF is appealing to the NCAA, seeking leniency based on his transition from Africa to the United States and his strong performance in the classroom this summer.

If Omogbehin winds up at Faith Baptist, he could improve his entrance exam scores this fall, either joining the Bulls in January and redshirting, or enrolling next summer with the same full four years of eligibility. Omogbehin would not likely have played a major role as a freshman at USF, which has three returning post players in Ron Anderson, Augustus Gilchrist and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick and a 6-foot-11 junior college signee in center Andre Jackson.

Faith Baptist has added a prep school program this year, headed by former Oldsmar Christian coach Ryan Pannone. Any decision from the NCAA would have to come in the next two weeks, as USF's fall classes start Sept. 22.

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